The Gift of Wisdom

Pentecost Sunday
May 24, 2015 – Year B
Readings:  Acts 2:1-11 / Psalm 104 / 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 / Jn 20:19-23
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

According to Beliefnet.com, one of the three most popular prayers in the world, which is being prayed by thousands, and even millions, of people every day is the Serenity Prayer. Part of it says, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” We all know that trying to change our DNA, or our genes, or our family, is an exercise in futility. But there are still a lot of things in the world and in ourselves that we can change. (more…)

Come after Me

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 25, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Jon 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 25; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20
Rev. David Hyman

Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Come after me.” Those are the key phrases for me this morning.

“The kingdom of God is at hand” simply means that Jesus is here. The final revelation of God is here. Come after me, sign up – you and I have done it. We’ve been baptized, we’ve been confirmed, we belong to the kingdom of God. We’d like to think that we’re all coming after in the ways in which we’ve been shown and the ways we’ve chosen to do it. And so it is. (more…)

My Faith Journey

FIRE Mass Testimony from Dr. Joseph Mukuni,
Visiting Assistant Professor of Career and Technical Education, Virginia Tech
January 6, 2015

Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for inviting me once again to share the testimony of my life journey with you. (more…)

Can We Be Like the Mother of God?

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
January 1, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Nm 6:22-27; Psalm 67; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
by Rev. Mr. Mike Stinson, Permanent Deacon

What does a Mother do? She helps her child grow. First, her child grows within her. Then her child is born. And then she encourages her child to keep growing, and she introduces him to others.

Like any mother, Mary remembered the events surrounding the birth of her child — the gospel says she “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” These events showed the unique nature of her child. A human baby — but also God, come to earth in human form. (more…)

Got Talent?

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 16, 2014 – Year A
Readings:  Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128; 1 Thes 5:1-6; Mt 25:14-30
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

One of the most popular reality shows on TV today is “America’s Got Talent.” Maybe some of you have watched this show. The most common questions that the judges ask the contestants is, “Do you think the talent you will show us is worth a million dollars?” (more…)

What Is a Church?

Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran in Rome
November 9, 2014 – Year A
Readings:  Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Psalm 46; 1 Cor 3:9C-11, 16-17; Jn 2:13-22
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

In 2011, my family and I were fortunate enough to be able to go on a trip with my in-laws to Europe. During this trip we spent several days in Rome. One of the many places that we visited is the subject of today’s feast – the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. (more…)

Servants – “Invite to the Feast Whomever You Find”

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 12, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Is 25:6-10a; Psalm 23; Phil 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt 22:1-14
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

For the third Sunday in a row, Jesus is criticizing the chief priests and elders, and once again, he is speaking to them in parables. He is admonishing them for failing to live up to the spirit of the Law and the Old Covenant. Unlike the last two Sundays where vineyards featured prominently, in this Gospel reading, Jesus uses the image of a party, a wedding feast, and the image is rich in meaning and symbolism. (more…)

Workers in the Vineyard

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 28, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Ez 18:25-28; Psalm 25; Phil 2:1-11; Mt 21:28-32
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

I don’t know about you but I like it when Jesus talks about vineyards. For me, it conjures up images of sitting in an adirondack chair over looking rows and rows of vines while sipping a glass of Nebbiolo. Birds chirping, mountains in the distance. However, I don’t think that’s the image that Jesus was going for. (more…)

Protesting Evil

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 7, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Ez 33:7-9, Psalm 95, Rom 13:8-10, Mt 18:15-20
by Rev. Mr. Ray Roderique, Permanent Deacon

There comes a time when we must speak out.

If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault. (Matthew 18:15)

Martin Niemoller was a German submarine commander in World War I. The German government awarded him the prestigious Iron Cross for his service.  After the war he studied theology and became a Lutheran pastor in a suburb outside Berlin. When the Nazis came to power, he became a party member.  But when he saw the evil direction the Nazis were beginning to take, he publicly opposed them and organized German church leaders to oppose them, also. (more…)

The New Evangelization Needs YOU!

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 13, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Is 55:10-11; Psalm 65; Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23
by Rev. Mr. Ray Roderique, Permanent Deacon

Today’s gospel is all about the sowing of seeds. We wonder what kind of ground we are. Are we the path, are we the rocky ground, or are we the good soil? The question is put before us, the word is preached. We hear the word, but do we put it into action? That’s what the message is today, to all of us. I think most of us are like the rocky ground. We hear the word and it brings joy to our hearts but then we leave here and forget all about it until next week. And that’s about as far as we go. But that’s not what Jesus wants from us. He wants each and every one of us to be fertile ground, who hears the word, takes it to heart and uses it on a daily basis, week after week. How do we do all these things? Well, there are a number of ways. (more…)